Finger Biter Blotter

The latest we hear is that finger bite victim, William J. Rice, will likely not be charged, despite throwing the first punch in the altercation. But the pro-reform biter, who remains at large, will likely face felony mayhem charges.

Sounds about right. As Capt. Ross Bonfiglio told TPM's Ben Frumin ...

"He's more a victim at this point," the captain said, even though "he was admittedly the primary aggressor."

"Nothing's black and white in a case like this," he said, noting that proportion can matter just as much as the order of events.

"If Rice was the initial aggressor and the guy cut his head off, it doesn't mean it was justified."

Late Update: It seems this story has taken a somewhat more serious turn. The initial AP report had it that Rice's finger had been reattached at a local area hospital not long after the incident. But a short time ago, Rice appeared on FOX and said that the finger was not reattached. So TPM's Ben Frumin talked to the hospital spokesperson who explained that there was a miscommunication between a nurse and the hospital spokesperson this morning. And she confirmed that the finger was in fact not reattached.